Sheet metal furniture



A. WlTKE ET AL I 0 SHEET METAL FURNITURE Filed 001?. 50. 1926 July 5, 1932.

5 Sheets-Sheet l A. WlTKE ET AL 1,865,603

SHEET METAL FURNITURE Filed Oct. 50. 1926 July 5, 1932.

5 Sheets-Sheet 2 25 229 69270 26 3 25 I i ll 30 7 g; 3 L m 6.4 i 5 i v A/bert Wit/(e Peter E. Hue Men 0110 Hose/nan (liar/86 F. Marie/l July 5, 1932.

A. WITKE ET AL SHEET METAL FURNITURE Filed Oct. 30. 1926 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 at 10/1 Ros 8171a n/1 Mall/n9 Peter 5. Ha 0H0 John H Char/es F Marta "M J y 1932- A. WITKE ET AL SHEET METAL FURNITURE e VI Wit/re Hue t tan 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 H/bert files f. Marie/l W @3251? July 5, 1932. A. WITKE ET AL SHEET METAL FURNITURE Filed Oct. 30. 1926 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Ell/676E7 6.

Alba/f W1 life Pe fer E. Hue! fen 0H0 Hasem 11/1 John F. Ma/lmq Charles E Mnc/l I W W Patented July- 5, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ALBERT WITKE, PETER E. HUETTEN, OTTO BOSEHANN, JOHN P. MOLLING, AND CHARLES F. MARTELL, F KENOSHA, WISCONSIN, ASSIGNORS TO SIMMONS COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OI DELAWARE SHEET METAL FURNITURE Application filed October so, 1926. Serial 110.1%,196.

The invention relates to improvements in sheet metal furniture and, while susceptible of extended application, is particularly adapted for use in connection with tables, mir- 6 rors, and case goods, for example, dressers.

The principal obj ects of the invention are to provide improved means for securing in place the top of the table or dresser utilizing the invention; to provide an improved, rigid, and substantially sound-proof top; to provide an improved construction whereby the end panel and adjacent corners of the structure may be made from a single piece of sheet metal while providing improved means for connecting thereto the other parts of the structure; to provide an improved connection between the leg and the main body portion of the struc- I ture; to provide improved means for securing to the top of the structure the retaining fence, wall, or bulwark rail at the back of the structure to provide an improved mirror post mounting; and, in general, to provide an improved arrangement and details of construction of the character referred to.

In the drawings which illustrate the invention as applied to a dresser designed for volume production.

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of the dresser.

Fig.2 is an end elevation thereof.

Fig. 3 is a section taken on the line 3-3 of Fig.1. r L

Fig. 4 is a section taken on the line 44 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a section taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a section taken on the line 66 of Fig. 1. I V

Fig. 7 is a section taken on the line 77 of Fig. 6.

d Fig. 8 is a section taken on the line 88 of Fig. 7 p

Fig. 9 is a partially'broken rear elevation of the mirror and frame.

Fig. 10 is a section taken on the line 101O of Fig. 9.

taken on the line 13-13 the various components of the main structure enlarged and in certain instances separated in order to illustrate the manner of assembly.

Fig. 17 is a section taken on the line 17 17 of Fig. 1, and

Fig. 18 is a perspective view 'of certainparts before assembly showing how the separator guide for the top drawers is sup ported at its rear end. o

By referring to the drawings, it will be seen that two of the principal elements of thestructure are the end walls 21, each of which embodies a recessed end panel 22 and hollow corner formations 23 and 24. As shown clearly in Fig. 4, the formations 23 and 24 are formed so as to be capable of fitting around square post members, which serve as reinforcing members. The corner formation 24 is preferably made with an ornamental swell 25.

Instead of reinforcing the corner formations 23 and 24 by parts extending all the way from top to bottom. of the end walls, they are rein orced at the tops and bottoms only by short tubes 26 and 27, see Fig. 16. These tubes are square in cross section so as to snugly fit in: the formations 23 and 24 and, in common with various other parts 'of thestructure are secured in position by The end walls 21 areunited together at the rear of the structure by means of a one piece back sheet 28, the ends of which are fitted with flanges as at 29 which are secured by welding or Otherwise) to the re-entrant I flanges 30 of the corner formations 23.

At the front of the structure at theupper ends of the front corner formations 24 there are secured a pair of short tubular re-inforcements 31 which at their ends are welded to the re-entrant flanges 32 of the corner formations 24 and to the re-inforcements 26. Similarly at the lower ends of the corner formations 24 there are similarly secured a pair of like re-inforcements 33.

The body portion of the structure is carried by four legs 34, each of which, as shown best in Figs. 7,8, and 16, comprises an ornamental lower portion 35 of tapering or irregular diameter and also an upper parallel portion 36, the cross section of said 1e being owever, circular throughout its ength.

The parallel portion 36 of the leg is of the proper cross section to fit snugly within the lower reinforcingtube 27 while the enlargement 37 comprises a shoulder upon which rests a trimming 38 interposed between the enlargement 37 and the lower edges of the reinforcing tube 27 and corner formation 24 (or 23 as the case may be). As shown, said and a ceiling sheet 41. The bottom sheet 40 at its rear edge is supported by and welded to an inwardly extendlng right angle flange 42 at the Tower edge of the back sheet 28. The side edges of said bottom sheet are similarly supported by and secured to similar flanges 43 at the lower edges of the end panels 22. The front edge of the bottom sheet' 40 is flanged upwardly as shown at 44 to conceal the reinforcements 33 and, in order to complete such concealment, the upper end of the flange 44 is folded back at right angles over the top faces of parts 33 as shown at 45.

In order to improve the rigidity'of the structure, the various parts, preferably at the seam lines, are joined y welding or brazing.

In order to facilitate quantity production, each of the drawers is made of preferably hve. ieces, a pair of similar end members 46, bottom sheet 47, a back sheet 48, and a front sheet 49. The side sheet 46 is made with an upper hollow circular trimming bead 50 which is closed and with a lower circular trimming bead 51 which is left open slightly at its upper end so as to receive a downwardl extending flange on the end of the bottom sheet 47. The rear edge of the bottom sheet 47"is supported by an inwardly projecting right angle flange 52 on'the lower edge of theback sheet 48. The front end of said bottom sheet 47 is supported by an inwardly extending flange 53 which constitutes an extension of a hollow rectangular formatioIT 54 formed as a depending extension of the lower edge of the front sheet 49 of the drawer.

flanges on the bottom sheet 47 of the drawer,

the lower bead 51 constitutes a runner which slides upon the drawer guide. In the case of thetwo full width drawers 55 and 56, see Fig; 1, and the outer sides of the upper or halfwidth drawers 57 and 58, the drawer guides 59 are of similar construction. They comprise strips of sheet metal formed with a hollow rectangular rib 60. projecting inwardly and forming a ledge for the runner bead 51 of the drawer. The vertically extending upper flangcs'61 and lower flanges 62 of the drawer guides 60, at their respective ends, overlap the flanges 30 and 32 of the corner formations 23 and 24 of the structure and are secured thereto by welding or brazing. Preferably, in order to prevent the side of the drawer from coming in contact with the sharp edges of the drawer guide flanges 61, saidflanges may be made with a small swell or bead 63, seeFig. 16. It will be observed that besides acting as drawer guides the members 59 serve to tie together and reinforce the hollow corner formations 23 and 24 and thus materially assist in improving the rigidity of the complete structure.

The separator guide 64 which serves to guide and support the inner edges of the small top drawers 57 and 58 comprises a hollow sheet metal member made of material U- shaped in crosssection, the lower sides of the U being extended to form hollow flanges which are rectangular in cross section as shown at 65. The legs 66'of the U are spaced so that at the front end of the separator guide there can be accommodated between said legs a vertical rectangular tubular muntin or division strip 67 which serves as a support for the front end of the separator guide 64. The separator guide is secured to the lower end of the muntin 67 by brazing or welding.

At the rear end of the separator guide 64 there is a set of three small ears 68, 69, and 70 which project beyond the squared-off end 71 of the separator guide. The squared-off end 71 of the separator guide abuts against the inside surface of the back sheet 28 of the structure, and the lugs 68, 69, and 70 project through correspondingly located slots 72, 73, and 74 in the back sheet and after the parts have been assembled, said lugs are bent over to lock the rear end of the separator guide 64 to the back sheet as indicated at 75 in Fig. 6. I I

The front end of the separator guide 64 is held against lateral horizontal movement by means of a pair of small, hollow, rectangula tie bars 7 6' and 77. The outer ends of the ti 3 bars 76 and 77 abut against and are welded to the inner vertical faces ,78 of the hollow flanges of the upper outside drawer guides and the inner ends of said tie bars 76 and 77 are similarly united to and similarly abut against the walls of the muntin 67, the front end of the separator guide 64 being made with rectangular notches or openings to accommodate the inner ends of .said tie bars 76 and 77. If desired the bars 76 and 77 may be made in a single, piece which extends through a notch inthe lower corner of the muntin 67.

To limit the inward movement of the drawers, there are employed bumpers 79 of soft rubber or other resilient material. Each of said bumpers comprises an enlarged outer head portion 80 and a shank portion 81 (see Fig. 17) which is rectangular in cross section and fits snugly within a rectangular aperture punched in a flange 82 formed by bending over an ear extending from the end of the drawer guide and closing the otherwise open end of the hollow flange 60 of the drawer guide. In the case of the inner bumpers for the upper top drawers, these are inserteddirectly into rectangular apertures punched in the inner ends of the tie bars 76 and 77.

The ceiling sheet 41 at its rear edge extends under and is welded to a right angle flange 83 extending inwardly as an extension of the upper end of the back sheet 28. Similarly the side edges of the ceiling sheet 41 extend under and are united to flanges 84 extending at right angles inwardly from the upper ends I of the end panel parts 22. The front margin 9 of the ceiling sheet 41 is bent down at right angles to conceal the tubular re-inforcements 31 as shown at 85*and the lower end of said depending flange 85 isturned inwardly at right angles as shown at 86 to cover the bottom edges of the reinforcements'31.

In order to stiffen the ceiling sheet there are formed therein a plurality of corrugations 87 which extend from endto end of theceiling sheet Also, in order still further to support the ceiling sheet and still further to improve the rigidity of the structure, there are united to the underside of said ceiling sheet a plurality of trough like flanged transversely extending reinforcing parts 88. The flanges 89 of said reinforcing members 88 are united to the ceiling sheet. by spot welding or other approved means, the said flang s being made with slight depressions as indicated at 90, see Fig. 16., in order to accommodate the corrugations 87 in the ceiling sheet heretofore referred to. The front ends of the reinforcing members 88 are also welded or brazed to the flange 85 and the rear ends of the same are welded directly to the back sheet 28.

Between the upper surface of the ceiling 41 and the outer topsheet 91, there is interposed a layer of fibrous material 92 which serves as a sound deadener. Said upper sheet 9l ismade of fairly heavy sheet metal and is flanged at its front and side edges to .form a hollow reinforcing and ornamental so as to form opposed cars 96. These earsare bent out slightly from the body of the corner formation 24 in order to constitute projecting parts, the under edges of which cooperate with the re-entrant flange 95 of the top sheet 91, thereby interlocking said parts together against. movement of the top sheet upwardly from the top of the structure. In order to engage said flange 95 under the edges of the interlocking lugs 96, the top sheet 91 is laid on top of the dresser with its front edge slightly forward of its proper position, whereupon upon pushing the top sheet rearwardly, the flange 95 will be moved into engagement with the lugs 96. At the rear edge of the top sheet 41, there is provided a depending right angle flange 96a which is so positioned that when the top sheet 41 has been pushed back into its final position, the flange 96a will just drop over the top edge of the back sheet 28, thus interlocking therewith and preventing subsequent forward movement of the top sheet 41 out of interlocking engagement with the lugs 96.

Referring particularly to Figs. 5, 14 and accurately positioning the pommels 98 with reference to the apertures in the troughs 88.

Vertically above the threaded apertures in the pommels 98, the ceiling sheet 41,- flange 83. and top sheet 91 are also apertured in order to admit freely a locking bolt 99.

The bolt or screw 99 previously referred to, serves not only as a means for holding down the rear end of the top face sheet 91, but also is utilized to secure in position the bulwark rail 100. As shown best in Fig. 16.

said bulwark rail 100 is made of sheet metal with a front wall 101. a top flange 102 and a suitable ornamental'bead 103 connecting said flange and wall. On the loweredge of the front wall 101, there is formed a horizontal flange 104 and preferably the rear edge of the top flange102 is made with a short trimming flange 105., In order to improve the appearance of the bulwark rail 100, its ends are curved off as shown beit at 106 in Fig. 1. The back of the bulwar rail 100 is left open in order to facilitate Welding of the '1.

parts. together.

'102, there is secured a short vertical tube 109 of rectangular cross section, the interior dimensions of which are sufficient to telescopically accommodate the hollow mirror post 107. Said socket or tube 109 at its front and sides is concealed by the top flange 102 and is secured to the rail' by welding or brazing. Said socket 109 is. of such length that it will just fit between the underside of the flange 102 and the top of the top sheet 91 of the structure, the bottom flange 104 of the back rail being cut away to accommodate the lower end of the said socket tube 109.

Now referring to Figs. 14, 15, and 16, it will be seen that at each side of the socket tube 109 at a distance of about half an inch above the lower edge of the tube, there is made a slit or cut 110 which divides off a lower portion 111 of the size wall of the socket109 from its main body portion. This permi s the said separated portion 111 of the side wall to be pushed inwardly at the center as shown at 112, thereby to form a support for a closure 113 in the form of a square sheet metal 'washer which-fills the cross section of the socket tube 109. Said washer 113 is centrally apertured to admit the bolt 99 and, if desired, may be held in posi-\ tion by tack-welding to the walls of the socket 109.

Each of the mirror posts is fitted at its upper end with a'pear shaped or other suitable mounting or ornament 114 which closes the upper end of the tubular post. The mirror designated as a whole 115, is supported upon a pair of pivots 116, each of which com-.

prisesa 'screw 117 extending horizontally and transversely through the mirror post and fitted with an ornamental head 118, an outer washer 119, and loose spacing collar 120. The 'inner threaded end 121 of the mirror pivot screws into a pummel 122 secured within the hollow border frame of the mirror itself.

The mirror frame comprises a border element of sheet metal having a continuous outer flange 123 extending transversely of the plane within the border frame by means of a set of filler blocks or strips 127 which, as shown, are preferably made of wood and of L-shaped cross section. The. edge of the mirror fits within the angle of the L so that the outer part 128 of the L separates the edge'of the strued as broadly as the state of the art.

mirror from the flange 123 and the inner part 129 of the L separates the silvered back 130 of the mirror from a sheet 130a, which serves to protect the said rear silvered surface 130' from abuse or wear. It will be observed that there is substantial hollow space 131 between the back of the mirror element and the guard sheet 130a so that there is no possibility of the guard sheet rubbing against the treated surface of the mirror unless the article is grossly abused or mishandled.

The mirror filler blocks and guard sheet are held in position by a plurality of lugs 132 which take the form of initially straight diamond shaped flat sheet metal stampings preferably spot welded to the inside of the outer flange 123 of the border frame. Said lugs are relatively thin so that they occupy an insignificant amount of space and do not interfere with the positioning of the blocks 127 in the assembly. While the parts are being assembled in the border frame, the projecting outer ends of the assembly lugs 132 extend rearwardly as shown in dotted line position at 133 in Fig. 10. After the parts have been all assembled and the guard sheet 130a finally put in place, the outer end of the .lug is hammered or otherwise bent over into its full line position as shown at 134. The.

lugs 132 thus serve to maintain the entire assembly in rigid and co-ordinate relation without the necessity of any further adjustable attaching devices.

' Where the dresser is to be shipped long distances, the shipping space can be reduced to small compass by pulling out the legs. The mirror may be removed from its pivots, the mirror posts may be pulled out of their sockets, and the bulwark rail can be detached by removing its clamping screws.

The described details of construction being illustrative of a single application only of the invention, the scope of the latter should be determined by reference to the appended claims, which, it is desired,should be conpossible consistent with We claim as ourinvention:

1. In metal furniture case goods, the combination of a'sheet metal end panel provided at front and rear with integral hollow corner formations having re-entrant inwardly extending opposed flanges spaced from the exterior of the panel and drawer guides united at their ends to said flanges and rigidly tying the same together.

2. In metal furniture case goods, the combination of panels at each end of the structure, each comprising an integral sheet having hollow corner formations formed thereon, tubular reinforcing members fitting withsaid body.

3. In sheet metal furniture, the combination of a body structure provided adjacent the front and top thereof with a forwardly and horizontally extending projection, the sheet metal top having a depending skirting flange with an inwardly bent flange at the lower edge thereof, said inwardly bent flange fitting under said projection to prevent separation of the top and body, a bulwark rail at the rear of the top, the top being interposed between said bulwark rail and said body and bolts for securing said bulwark rail to said body and thereby clamping said top to said body.

4:. In sheet metal furniture, the combination of a body portion, a sheet metal bulwark rail at the rear of the top of the body portion, a hollow socket in said rail, an apertured closure member in said socket and a bolt extending through said closure and into the body portion for clamping said rail to 5. In sheet metal furniture, the combination of a body portion, a sheet metal bulwark rail at the rear of the top of the body portion, a hollow socket in said rail, an apertured closure member in said socket, a bolt extending through said closure and into the body portion for clamping said rail to said body, and a mirror post having its lower end telescoped into said socket.

said rail and open at their upper ends, aper-' tured closures mounted adjacent the bottoms of the sockets, nuts in the body portion and headed screws having their shanks extending downwardly through the closures and cooperating with the nuts for detachably securing the bulwark rail on the body, said bulwark rail having a rearwardly extending substantially horizontal flange fitting the exterior of the post.

8."In an article of sheet metal furniture, the combination of oppositely disposed end members, each having a panelpart and a hollow corner post formation integral with said panel part at each vertical edge thereof, said corner post formations and panel part being of substantially coextensive vertical dimension, means rigidly uniting-said. end."

member-sin relatively fixed position including a back'sheet, a-bott'oin' sheet, and a ceiling shee't,each having marginal portions'se;

cured to said end members, said parts constituting the body of the article, and legs depending from and detachably mounted in the lower ends of said corner post formations.

9. In an article of sheet metal furniture, the combination of oppositely disposed end members, each having a panel part and a hollow corner post formation integral with said panel part at each vertical edge thereof, said corner post formations and panel part being of substantially co-extensive vertical' dimension, means rigidly uniting said end members in relatively fixed position including a back sheet, a bottom sheet, and' a ceiling sheet, each of said parts having marginal portions permanently secured to said end members, said parts constituting the body of the article, legs depending from and detachably mounted in the lower ends of said corner post formations, a top mounted on said body over said ceiling sheet, and a bulwark rail detachably secured to said body adjacent the rear thereof.

10. In an article of sheet meta-l furniture, the combination of oppositely disposed end members, each having a panel part having a hollow corner post formation integral with said panel part at each vertical edge thereof, said corner post formations and panel part being of substantially co-extensive vertical dimension, means rigidly uniting said end members in relatively fixed position including a back sheet, a bottom sheet, and a ceiling sheet, each of said parts having marginal portions permanently securedfito said end members, said parts constituting e body of the article, legs depending from and detachably mounted in the lower ends of said corner post formations, a top mounted on said body over said ceiling'sheet, a bulwark rail detachably secured to said body adjacent the rear thereof, and a mirror unit projecting upwardly from and removably mounted in said bulwark rail.

11. In metal furniture, the combination of a body structure provided with a lateral projection at its front side, a top provided at its front edge with a depending flange having an inwardly bent part at the lower edge of said flange interlocking with said projection to hold the top, down upon the body structure, and a depending outer flange on said top adj acent its rear edge, vertically, displaceably fitting over the back of the body structure for preventing forward sliding movement of said topf-on said body'portion, thereby maintaining said first-mentioned interlocking parts in engagement.

12. In metal furniture, the combination of a bod structure provided with a lateral projectiori at its'front side, atop provided at its front edge with a depending flange having an. inwardly bent part at' the lower edge of said flange interlocking with said projection to hold the top down upon the body structure, and a depending outer flange on said top adjacent its rear edge, vertically, displaceably fitting over the back of the body structure for preventing forward sliding movement of said top on said body portion, thereby maintaining said first-mentionedinterlocking parts in engagement, and disengageable fastening means for holding said rear edge flange portion in assembled relation over the back of the body structure.

13. In metal furniture, the combination of a sheet metal body structure including end walls having corner post formationsintegral therewith, one of said post formations being provided near the top thereof with a lateral projection formed integrally with said corner post formation, a top provided on one side with means interlocking with said projection for holding down the top upon the body, and means at the other side of the top for maintaining said projection and means in said interlocking engagement.

14. In metal furniture, the combination of a sheet metal body structure including end walls having 'corner post formations integral therewith, the front corner post formations having ears formed integral therewith adjacent their upper ends and projecting forwardly therefrom, a top provided with a depending flange along its front edge and said flange having an inwardly bent part at its lower end adapted to fit under said ear to lock said top to said body adjacent the front thereof, and a depending flange on said' top adjacent its rear edge, vertically displaceably fitting over the back of the body structure for preventing forward sliding movement of said top on said body structure,

thereby to maintain said inwardly bent part and said ear in interlockin engagement.

JOHN P. M LLING. OTTO ROSEMANN.

CHARLES F. MARTELL. PETER, E. HUETTEN, ALBERT WI'ITKE. 

